The guy usually gets two page hits a day. In the web server logs, pages look like batches of entries. Each page component is downloaded separately in its own HTTP transaction. First, an HTML page is downloaded. As the page is parsed by the browser, each downloadable component is loaded. As it is served from the server, it is logged. The size of the batch of entries depends on the page (RH's entry with pictures, the particular entry this guy probably found, takes something like forty-one HTTP transactions to load). So this guy is used to seeing 'symmetrical' logs; an HTML file and a bunch of pictures. That batch is considered a 'page hit'.

All of a sudden, his site traffic spikes. Each time anyone opens that particular post, his server gets hits for the two images. So instead of getting two 'page hits' a day, all of a sudden he gets image hits for all of the times anyone opens RH's journal page. Way asymmetrical. So he turns to the referrer log to see where they are coming from. The referrer log specifies the page a request originated from. All of the traffic is from the same page. He cuts it from the referrer log and pastes it into the browser.

I always say, don't post anything on the Internet you wouldn't write on a note and stick under someone's windshield wiper.

Comments

He wouldn't be able to see the content, but he'd see the URL. then he'd call the Live Journal administrators and tell them that someone was hijacking his images and bandwidth. I would assume they'd show him the content quickly to avoid issues.

In that case, do websites have to have specific warnings and such not to use images and hotlinks as such? If a website does not have a specific warning, I don't see how LJ has any responsibility to show him anything.

I know from Googling images that some won't show. Instead it will display a generic message, like an ad for Tripod. How does that work?

LJ has an official process to go through if you think your copyright is being violated, but I have never seen them do anything about hotlinking of images. (nor does their FAQ mention it). Usually what happens is the person whose images are being ganked does something to stop it from happening (or replaces them with some big ugly jpeg that says "Stop stealing my bandwidth, you #$%^*%&*$%" and possibly a rude picture. Cuz Teh Internets are mature that way.)

In the case where there is a business website, forcing the guy to change his website to work around someone's unauthorized use of server resources and original artwork would appear to be unreasonable. I'll bet that LJ (or the new parent money-making company that would prefer not to be dragged into court over mistakes its subscribers make) has a fair use policy around that covers this situation and that unauthorized linking to someone else's server and artwork is covered. The website does not have a copyright notice but my understanding is that the notice is typically not really needed.